Sangvis Ferri had the control of a modest military base, from this a tunnel with rails started going underground. The base, with a semicircular perimeter, was well defended and had only one access road, the only way to enter was to go through a steel door protected by several automatic turrets.
The T-Dolls of Team EXPIATIO were aware, thanks to the informations from Griffin & Kryuger, that Alchemist had taken refuge in that base and so the assault operation began late at night. The team split into two groups of three: Makarov, SCW and 9A-91 infiltrated from the walls while PA-15, AA-12 and OTs-14 attacked the enemies in front of the main entrance.
Fifteen Vespids assisted by four automatic turrets attached to the walls guarded the gates; when the shots started four of the ten of Jaegers on guard helped the Vespids to kill the enemies, meanwhile Alchemist ordered the ten Guards to follow her inside the tunnel.
Makarov's group managed to climb the high wall and successfully eliminated the Jaegers within a few minutes, in the meantime in front of the main entrance the T-Dolls shared the objectives: OTs-14 had to think about the Jaegers, AA-12 had to kill the Vespids while PA-15 had to destroy the turrets. OTs-14 managed to quickly kill the Jaegers and helped AA-12 against the Vespids. After a long and grueling fire fight, the T-Dolls managed to take control of the military base.
" Alchemist isn't here, she probably went in there. " Makarov stated pointing to the tunnel.
" I don't like the idea of going inside that tunnel, I have to be honest. " SCW said worried.
" Uh-uh, a dark tunnel full of who knows how many dangers. The mere idea excites me to death! There could be a lot of enemies ... isn't it fantastic? " PA-15 exclaimed ready to enter the tunnel.
" We must evaluate the situation first. " Said 9A-91.
Makarov took a look around her: there were only structures used to contain weapons and ammunition at the base.
" There's nothing else. SCW ... if we entered how many possibilities would we have to survive a possible trap? "
" Well, the tunnel is large enough for two trains to pass through, but unfortunately we don't know the planimetry of the underground structure, in other words, getting in there is a great risk for us. "
" Hmm ... we have no other choice. We cannot let Alchemist escape. Let's go in. "
The T-Dolls entered the tunnel in formation, it was illuminated by small red lights on the walls, the road was straight and no noise could be heard except that of the girls' footsteps. OTs-14 looked around but there was nothing oddly, the structure was stable and there were no enemies around. After thirty minutes of walking the Dolls came across a sea of corpses.
" Thousands ... " SCW murmured intimidated by that macabre scenario.
" They were infected. " Said 9A-91.
OTs-14 approached one of those corpses and noticed that it had that circular device on the back of its neck that could bring the dead back to life; she glanced at the corpses and nearly fifty had the same graft.
" Fuck. "
" Something wrong, Groza? " Makarov asked.
" We have problem, Makarov. "
" What are you talking about? "
" These corpses are going to come back to life. Do you see those devices on their necks? They are special plants that take control of dead bodies. They are identical to what I found in Moscow. "
" Impossible ... "
" No. If all these bastards start attacking us, we're screwed. "
" Yes, but ... how do they activate? " SCW asked, distressed.
" I don't know for sure. Maybe ... when threats are detected. I don't know ... "
" Sounds funny ... " PA-15 pointed the gun and fired at a corpse.
" Are you an idiot ?! " Exclaimed OTs-14 kicking PA-15.
" Do you want a bullet in the head? " Said AA-12 pointing the weapon at OTs-14.
" Are you just starting to do this nonsense right now? Isn't there a better time? "
" Unlike you I don't attack my team members with so much aggression. "
" So you're my teacher now? "
" I'm the one who keeps an eye on you. You say you're innocent but you've no problems hitting PA-15 which fought alongside us both against the Manticore and against the enemies at the base. Is this your way of showing gratitude? "
" Gratitude? " OTs-14 turned to AA-12, looked her straight in the eyes " Gratitude? For what? For being treated like a Sangvis Ferri novice by my allies? No, fuck you, I'm not here to be your friend or to be a friend of PA-15. I'm only here to do my job: I kill Sangvis Ferri. There's nothing more. So drop that weapon or regret it. "
" Tch! Whatever ... " AA-12 lowered the weapon. " But know that it doesn't end here, I simply am not going to waste ammunition on you. "
At that moment hundreds of corpses rose and then OTs-14 yelled at the girls to flee however the living dead did not run but emitted strange sounds, similar to those of a digital alarm clock, and then exploded one after the other, causing the walls of the tunnel to collapse. A cloud of black smoke rose and obscured the tunnel, the impact of the explosion made the entire structure tremble. Alchemist, who was retiring with her ten Guards, heard the deafening noise, turned in the direction of the explosion and smiled victoriously.
" Easy. But it's not over, yes? We'll see what they can do. "
SCW got up, she was not injured luckily, behind her there was only a wall of rubble and therefore it would have been impossible to proceed along the tunnel; Makarov was passed out, fortunately she was not injured either.
" Makarov, wake up ... we have a problem. A big problem. "
" My head ... I've a terrible headache. That explosion ... what happened to other girls? Are they fine? " Makarov asked, getting to her feet a little at a time.
" Well, I've no idea where they are ... wait a minute! I'm getting a signal. Hmmm ... apparently PA-15 and 9A-91 are both fine but they're on the other side of the wall. We have to find a way to save them. "
" Groza ... where's Groza? "
" I don't know. I lost her signal and also that of AA-12 ... what do we do? "
" SCW ... we have to help the other girls, we can't lose them! " Makarov exclaimed upset.
" Calm down, Makarov, we'll find a way to help them, trust me. "
" No, you don't understand ... " Makarov fell into tears. " ... I can't lose our team like that. I'm the leader ... I have complete responsibility for my team ... for Groza ... I can't ... I can't fail! "
" You are too hard on yourself, Little Rov, it's true you are our leader but you're not alone. With my help you will be able to rescue all our teammates, okay? " SCW hugged Makarov. " Trust me. "
" Thank you ... "
" Don't worry. "
" Ehm, SCW ... "
" Yes? "
" Why are you stroking my head? I'm not a cat. "
" Eh, eh, fluffy cat. " SCW stopped hugging Makarov, walked over to the rubble wall and said, after leaving a heavy sigh. " Now we have this problem to solve. Any ideas, Little Rov? "
" Well ... "
" So? "
" How about we ... er ... you know ... "
" Do we destroy it? "
" No! No! But we can find a way to ... " Makarov then had a flash of genius. " Yes, maybe I know what to do! "
Meanwhile AA-12 was stunned, when she got back on her legs she immediately looked for her shotgun, to maintain an upright position she had to make use of the support of the wall for a couple of meters then finally she could remain standing with her own strength; her weapon was on the floor, it wasn't damaged and she immediately took it up; behind her there was a wall of rubble beyond which she could hear the voice of PA-15, since she couldn't go back she decided to continue along the tunnel and then she saw that ahead there was OTs-14 that was advancing.
" Thanks for helping me. Are you always so helpful with your teammates? " Asked AA-12.
" Nothing personal, I just don't like your company. You are as pleasant as a bedbug on the back. "
" Fuck you. "
" So what are you going to do? "
" And you? "
" I'm going forward, I've to kill Alchemist to end this once and for all. " OTs-14 replied with a determined look.
" You won't be able to face her alone, so ... I'll go with you. "
" If you want ... "
The two girls set off together.
AA-12 thought back to the look of OTs-14, that particular look that she had seen when they were at the bar, she couldn't avoid thinking of those nostalgic and pained eyes, those eyes so dark that they forgot love and then she asked :
" Who did you lose? "
" What? "
" You lost someone dear, right? I know it. "
" Do you have the third eye? "
" No, but you have the gaze of someone who has stopped loving and who sees only darkness and pain. Can I know his name? "
" Her name. She was a girl. "
" Oh. And who was she? "
" Why do you want to know? " Asked OTs-14 annoyed by those questions.
" If you care so much not to be seen as the enemy, you better justify your actions, otherwise you risk making the wrong figure. It's just a piece of advice, but if you want you can also not listen to me, I've much better to do. "
" ... "
" So? "
" Lucy. She was my commander. Her name was Lucy and I've loved her since the first day I saw her. "
" What was she like? "
" She was a kind person with a big heart, perhaps a little stubborn and even childish, but she was able to make every moment, even the most boring, a special one. She had long brown hair and her eyes were beautiful ... like yours. "
" Huh?! " AA-12 was shocked by that compliment and blushed. " What's that? Are you kidding me? I kill you! "
" You're a bitch ... but you have beautiful eyes, I give you that. Lucy's eyes were like yours. "
" Yes, well ... I'm not her! " Said AA-12, embarrassed.
" I know, because you're a bitch. "
" Fuck you. " AA-12 answered in a cold tone
" So are you done with the questions? "
" Is the commander with whom you fell in love the same who died during that operation in Lubny? "
" Yes. Why? "
" Why then do you behave this way? The report I read said that she had been killed by Sangvis Ferri. "
" Killed by the Sangvis Ferri, huh? A nice excuse. But I know how things went: Lucy led the team from inside a well-protected bunker whose door was sealed by a code that only the members of Griffin & Kryuger and our team knew about. The door had not been destroyed, it had been opened and Lucy had been killed with the use of a traditional weapon, nothing comparable to the armament of Sangvis Ferri. Our team's T-Dolls were all on the battlefield so none of us approached Lucy ... so who could it have been if not a member of Griffin & Kryuger? "
" So why do you like going from factory to factory? "
" I'm looking for evidence. " Replied OTs-14 turning to AA-12. " We T-Dolls are built thinking that humans are good, thinking that humans are the victims of a war against a terrible enemy. We cannot question Griffin & Kryuger because it's embodied justice, true justice ... however ... I want to show that they too can be capable of doing evil things. "
" One moment ... so you don't want to prove that they killed Lucy, you're convinced that they're guilty, what you want to do is confirm their guilt by showing that they're not extraneous to evil acts such as those perpetrated by Sangvis Ferri. "
" Exactly. I already know that they killed Lucy, but they don't want to admit it and cloud my view with doubt, but if I showed that they've already committed crimes, if I could demolish that glass castle in which they make us live, then I would've peace of mind and I could condemn them without fear of making a mistake. "
" A glass castle? "
" Yes. We T-Dolls live in a castle made of glass, and I want to be a crack in that glass. "